Sections:
1) Types of Print Resources
2) Subject Headings & Classification Systems
3) Call Numbers
4) Author, Title, Subject & Keyword SearchingBook
BasicsIt's important
to remember that while there may not be an entire book available on
your specific topic, there may be information on the topic in books
and also reference books on broader subjects. It makes sense to start
by looking for books on as specific a topic as possible to see if there
are whole books on that topic. If nothing is available on the most specific
topic, try to think of broader subjects that might deal with the topic.
For example, if I don't find any books on my specific research topic
- the physiological effects of HIV on the immune system - I could try
looking under the broader subject of HIV and the immune system and,
if I still don't find anything, I could try an even broader subject-AIDS.

One important
limitation of books is that, because of the time it takes to write and
publish a book, the information in books is virtually never as current
as that in recent magazine, journal or newspaper articles.

Once you
find books on a broader subject, look in the table of contents (in the
front of the book) and the index (in the back of the book) to see if
your subject is covered in the book and, if so, on what pages.

In most
libraries, books are divided into two basic categories: "reference books"
and "circulating books." Circulating books are books that can be checked
out. They are shelved in the main shelving area of the library, often
called the "stacks." Circulating books cover all subject areas and can
range from broad overviews of a general topic to very detailed studies
of a very limited, specific topic. Books usually provide more depth
and details on a topic than do encyclopedia articles, and they include
a much broader range of information than that covered in a magazine,
journal or newspaper article.

Reference
books are special types of books, such as encyclopedias and dictionaries,
that you usually just "refer" to for specific pieces of information
rather than reading all or large parts of the books. Reference books
are usually shelved in a special section of the library--the reference
section--and can be used in the library but cannot be checked out. Reference
books are good sources to refer to for general overviews of a topic
and to become familiar with specialized or technical terms peculiar
to a field or subject.

The
following is a list of different reference books:

Dictionaries
-The most familiar and frequently used reference source.
There are general and specialized dictionaries just like encyclopedias.
We consult general dictionaries to find the meaning and origin of words.
But there are also historical dictionaries, subject dictionaries, e.g.,
medical dictionaries, science dictionaries, foreign language dictionaries.
This is a short list of the many dictionaries found in our library.

Almanacs
& Yearbooks -Wonderful resources of a wide variety of information.
These reference books are published yearly and contain factual information
pertinent to a specific span of time. Medical, governmental, industrial,
and vital statistics are some examples of statistical information that
can be found in these resources. These almanacs and yearbooks can be
found in our library:

ALMANACS

World
Almanac and Book of Facts

Information
Please Almanac

An Almanac

YEARBOOKSStatistical Abstract of the United States

California
Statistical Abstract

Handbooks
& Manuals -Usually covering a specific subject or subject
area. Handbooks normally give a broad treatment of one subject area.
Manuals are reference books that explain how something is done or how
something operates. Our library has many handbooks and manuals in the
fields of science and medicine. Listed below are a few of the handbooks
found in our library:

HANDBOOKS

Science
& Technology Desk Reference

Merriam
Webster's Secretarial Handbook

Perry's
Chemical Engineer's Handbook

Simon
& Schuster Handbook of Anatomy & Physiology

MANUALS

Complete
Guide to Symptoms Illness & Surgery

Publications
Manual for the American Psychological Association

United
States Government Manual

Atlases
-Books filled with maps, charts, and tables. Atlases provide
information pertaining to populations and place locations. Current and
historical are the major types of atlases; however, there are human
anatomy atlases too. The list below contains examples of different kinds
of atlases:

Times
Atlas of the World

Shepherd's
Historical Atlas

Atlas
of Human Histology

Grant's
Atlas of Anatomy

Encyclopedias
-The first place to look when beginning research on a subject.
In addition to providing a general overview of your topic, encyclopedias
help define your topic. Articles include bibliographies leading you
to additional information. There are two types of encyclopedias - general
and subject or special encyclopedias. General encyclopedias provide
information on a wide range of subjects. The World Book Encyclopedia
and the Encyclopedia Britannica are examples of general encyclopedias
CSM Library owns. Subject encyclopedias concentrate on particular subjects
or areas of study. McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology
and Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia are a few of the many subject
encyclopedias CSM Library owns.